A remarkable new study has discovered the first known example of a mammal species that is able to procreate without the need for penetration during mating.
It is a scientific breakthrough that could have sweeping implications for the wider field of reproductive biology. Published in the journal PLOS One, the study was conducted by researchers from the University of Western Australia and the University of Oslo in Norway. Their research revolved around the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), an odd-looking primate that inhabits the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia.
The study, using tracking and camera traps, revealed that the proboscis monkey mated by forming an intimate embrace, without the need for penetration. Instead, male and female proboscis monkeys insert their long and slender index fingers into each other’s urogenital region. After they reach orgasm, the female is able to store sperm from the male within her reproductive tract, thus avoiding fertilization without penetration.
The significance of the findings cannot be overstated. While scientists have long known that some species of shrimp, frogs, worms and other non-mammals can mate without penetration, this appears to be the first time a mammal species has been definitively seen engaging in the behavior.
The process of mating without penetration, which the researchers dubbed ‘finger transplacental intromission’, could have far-reaching implications for the treatment of infertility in humans. The researchers suggest that it may be possible to recreate the same kind of process in humans, by using DNA-based reproductive technology.
The researchers are now attempting to uncover the detail of why proboscis monkeys have evolved this surprisingly advantageous strategy. It appears to be an evolved adaptation to life in the mangrove swamps and riverine habitats where they make their home. Beyond that, the study may lead to further breakthroughs in the realm of reproductive biology.
In conclusion, the recent discovery that proboscis monkeys can mate without penetration is a groundbreaking advance in our understanding of mammal mating habits. It could pave the way for new treatments and solutions to infertility, both in humans and also in other mammalian species.
